How to Cover Grays on Dark Hair

The rumors are true: gray roots are more visible if you have brown hair, with the silver strays contrasting against your milk chocolate or deep espresso lengths. But, if you choose to embrace gray coverage, keeping white regrowth under wraps is much easier than you think. If you’ve ever wondered “What color is best for me?” when covering your grays, the answer depends on the level or coverage that you want, from just retouching roots to transforming gray into an 'expensive brunette'.

Here, we're revealing how a trip to your nearest Wella salon can help you seamlessly hide gray hair if you're a brunette, whether you're looking for a roots-only cover-up or an all-over fix to make silver strands disappear...

WHAT IS THE BEST HAIR COLOR TO COVER GRAYS ON DARK HAIR?

Your Wella Professionals colorist will be able to advise on the best formulas to cover your gray strands, but if you want to head to your next salon visit well-informed, get to know these pro color products:

FOR DIMENSIONAL GRAY BLENDING: COLOR TOUCH

When you want to softly blend your grays so they melt into your base shade, our iconic demi-permanent formula, Color Touch, is the perfect pick. It’s been a cult-classic for years, and now it’s better than ever, thanks to the new built-in Metal Purifier that neutralizes metals in your hair. (You can’t see them, but they’re there!) The result: true-to-tone vibrancy and shine, no matter your hair’s condition, and a multi-dimensional shade that lasts for around 28 washes. To give you up to 70% gray coverage, your colorist can also combine your Color Touch shade with Color Touch Plus, so any gray regrowth is seamlessly blended into your dark base color.

FOR INTENSE COLOR WITH UP TO 100% GRAY COVERAGE: KOLESTON PERFECT

Our most intense permanent formula, Koleston Perfect, gives you up to 100% gray coverage with a boost of natural depth and shine that gives brown shades a rich glow. The brunette options are endless, thanks to the extensive palette of rich warm and smoky cool browns, so you can achieve a full cover-up that transforms or blends into your natural base color. This is also the first and only professional hair color that combines Metal Purifier with ME+ Dye Technology, so you get true-to-tone results that are kind to your hair from color to color. If you haven't heard of them before, the Metal Purifier neutralizes metal in your hair so your shade appears even and healthy-looking, while the ME+ Dye Technology reduces the risk of developing a new allergy to hair color.

FOR TARGETING GRAY ROOTS ON DARK HAIR: KOLESTON XPRESS

Just want to target the grey root area? Koleston Xpress is your speedy solution, delivering up to 100% gray coverage in just 10 minutes. It’s a non-progressive formula that helps to prevent overprocessing, so your color won’t continue to get darker after developing- a problem that can occur with other gray root touch-ups. Koleston Xpress also blends beautifully into the lengths of your hair, so you'll enjoy seamless results, no matter the brown shade you're going for.

FOR NATURAL-LOOKING COLOR WITH UP TO 100% GRAY COVERAGE: ILLUMINA COLOR

For full coverage that’s youthful, radiant and 100% natural-looking, ask your colorist to use Illumina Color. This permanent formula gives you up to 100% gray coverage in a range of beautiful brown shades, from warm, caramel-tinted hues to cooler, deeper espressos. Any brunette color is possible, and the finish feels uniquely yours;: healthy, dimensional, and luminous in every light. If radiance is your goal, with every gray strand under wraps, its innovative MicroTones will mimic your natural hair tones for a brunette shade that glistens.

5 TECHNIQUES TO COVER GRAYS ON DARK HAIR

1. STRATEGIC HIGHLIGHTS

If you don't want the ‘get it all gone' coverage of full regrowth application, adding subtle highlights can be a flattering way of blending grays away. Tactically placed around the hairline, they make a scattering of silver strands look a little like cool-toned highlights, too, while the lift they lend to both your skin and hair has a youth-enhancing effect. Plus, if you go to a Wella salon, your colorist can use BlondorPlex, our bond-strengthening lightener that reduces breakage by up to 97%2 – ideal for dry, sensitized and delicate hair.

2. LOWLIGHTS IN BROWN HAIR

Lowlights are the opposite of highlights; darker strands are woven into your hair to create a richer color. They’re also a subtle way to disguise graeys without coloring hair dark all over, you can just target grays. At your next appointment, ask your stylist for lowlights if you’re wanting to add depth to darker hair, blend silver strands naturally into darker tones and create dimension.

3. ROOT COVER-UP

With the right root coverage product, like Koleston Xpress, your colorist can home in on regrowth and target the roots only, while maintaining your shade on the lengths. It's a great approach if you want to keep your current color intact. We love combining it with a SHINEFINITY Clear Glaze for a zero lift, zero damage, glossy topcoat that revives radiance through the lengths and ends.

4. ALL-OVER HAIR COLOR

When you love a shade so much you want to wear it all-over, ask your colorist for root-to-tip color. Not only will you enjoy a fresh coat of color that makes you feel transformed, but your gray hairs will also be swept away, whether you've gone for full coverage or dimensional blending. This is also a good approach if you're tackling grays that have gone beyond the root area, as your colorist can blend them in with your dark strands so they appear undetectable.

5. LUXELIGHTS

Love the breezy brightness of a few sun-kissed highlights? Then discover Luxelights, Wella's signature combination of balayage and a root shadow. An upgrade on traditional gray coverage treatments, it sees your silver regrowth seamlessly disguise, while the lengths and ends are set aglow with freehand sweeps of our bond-strengthening pre-lightener, BlondorPlex. The lightened sections are then toned with a Koleston Perfect Pure Glossing Service, so you get shine and richness in one for the most luxurious-looking balayage."

IS IT BETTER TO GO LIGHTER OR DARKER TO COVER GRAY HAIR?

If you're wondering whether it's time to switch from brunette hair to a lighter shade, the answer is: it's up to you. There's no one-size-fits-all approach to covering gray strands, but there are some general guidelines that can help you decide. So, consider this:

- As you've seen above, it is possible to cover grays through darker hair. So, just because white hairs may be less visible on light hair doesn't mean you have to make a switch.

- That said, if you want lower-maintenance gray coverage, lighter colored hair can be a good choice, as it will contrast less against gray and white roots, so regrowth doesn't appear as stark.

- If you do decide to go a shade lighter – or even a few shades – you don't have to opt for an all-over transformation. A subtle scattering of highlights will still give you a lift, and it will also help to blend gray hairs away.

- Ultimately, the choice is up to you. Work with your hair colorist to figure out what suits your skin tone, hair type and hair goals. You might even decide to make the full transition to all-over gray.

BUMP UP SHINE AND CONTROL FRIZZ

As hair turns gray, it can also lose hydration over time, which is why you might notice that wiry, coarse, brittle hair texture through gray roots. This has nothing to do with the color; it just so happens that, as well as creating less pigment, your hair follicles begin to produce less sebum as you get older. So, to defy the resulting frizz and put moisture back in, use smoothing hair care, like the ULTIMATE SMOOTH regimen. Packed with Squalane and Omega-9, the Shampoo, Conditioner and Intense Mask boost hydration from the inside out. The collection is also color-safe, so your gray coverage is kept intact from wash to wash, with intense nourishment helping your dream shade shimmer and shine.

REPAIR AND REVIVE WITH THIS POWER PAIR

Whether you're already tackling damage or you want to prevent future wear and tear, try this this salon-approved, two-step regimen to give your hair its shine and nourishment back:

First, repair hair damage in 90 seconds*** with ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. The breakthrough mist harnesses a potent blend of AHA and Omega-9 to replenish each strand from the inside out. Spray it liberally through clean, damp hair from root to tip, let it absorb, and then move onto the next gloss-boosting step.

Next, smooth ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum through the lengths and ends of your hair. The luxe hair oil gives you nourishment in 30 seconds and smoothness that lasts up to 3 days. So, not only are frizz and flyaways kept under control, but your dark hair radiates health with a glossy glow that goes the distance.

PROTECT AGAINST HEAT DAMAGE

Using a heat and UV protectant daily will shield your color from the fading effects of heat styling and sun damage – and ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum achieves both jobs in one. More than ‘just’ a hair oil, this frizz-defying powerhouse also protects your hair from every kind of heat. Use it before blow-drying, flat ironing or curling your hair, or just as you're about to head outside.

TOP UP YOUR DARK SHADE AT HOME

While gray hair coverage is a task that's best left to your hair colorist, you can still soften the appearance of silver strands and top up your brunette tone at home. Reach for Color Fresh Mask in Chocolate Touch and apply it through clean, damp hair. Use a wide-tooth comb to distribute it evenly, so you get a flawless finish. Then, wait 10 minutes before rinsing it completely clean to reveal a refreshed color. It's ideal for removing brassiness while elevating your beautiful brunette shade in between salon visits.

*FOR PEOPLE NOT ALLERGIC TO HAIR COLORANTS.

Although the risk of developing a new allergy is reduced, there remains a risk of allergic reaction that can be severe. Always ask your stylist to perform an Allergy Alert Test 48h before each coloration. Strictly follow safety instructions. If you have ever experienced an allergic reaction to hair colorants, you should not color. ME+ is present in various shades of Illumina Color, Color Touch or Koleston Perfect.

FAQs on Gray Coverage

What hair color is best for me if I want low-maintenance gray coverage?

Demi-permanent color or lowlights in brown hair are best for softer regrowth as well as fewer salon visits.

Which hair colors suit cool skin tones best?

If your skin has cooler undertones, certain black and brown hair colors will look flattering while also covering gray hairs:

• Ash brown for a smoky, natural look.

• Mocha brown for a balanced cool-toned brunette.

• Blue-black for dramatic and high-contrast depth.

Can lowlights cover grays in brown hair?

Yes. Lowlights blend grays into darker, richer strands that create dimension.

**When using Wellaplex N°2 with Blondorplex, versus Blondorplex alone.

***When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.

****On wet hair vs. non-conditioning shampoo, when using Miracle Oil Serum.